Aussies grab Grammy nominations

Justin Bieber and country star Sturgill Simpson appear to have pushed David Bowie out of the Grammy Album of the Year race.

Australian country singer Keith Urban

Keith Urban was stunned when he was nominated for three Grammy Awards for his album Ripcord. (AAP)

Keith Urban, Sia and Flume head an impressive contingent of Australians who have collected Grammy Award nominations across multiple music genres.

Beyonce is set to be queen of the 59th Annual Grammy Awards after topping Tuesday's nomination ceremony with nine nods, just ahead of Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West who scored eight each.

There were also plenty of surprise nominations and snubs.

The late David Bowie was expected to have one last shot at the coveted Album of the Year award for Blackstar and Record of the Year, but his four nominations were relegated to alternative and rock categories.

Queensland's country rocker Urban, in Australia on a national concert tour, is a regular at the Grammys, but was stunned when nominated this year for Best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.

"I'm totally blown away with these nominations," Urban wrote on Twitter.

He said his album Ripcord "was really a collaborative labor of love both for the music and all the people that helped me bring my vision to life".

Adelaide-born Sia also has three nominations.

The singer-songwriter's This Is Acting is nominated in the star-studded Best Pop Album category against Adele, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato.

Sia is also nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Cheap Thrills with Sean Paul and for Try Everything, a track from Disney's Zootopia animated film.

Sydney DJ, musician and record producer Harley Streten, known worldwide as Flume, capped off his world tour with two nominations.

The 25-year-old was nominated for Best Dance Recording for Never Be Like You and Best Dance/Electronic Album for Skin.

Australian brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone are back in the hunt for Grammys with their band For King & Country nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for their hit Priceless.

Hillsong Young & Free, the latest offshoot of the Sydney-based mega Hillsong church, picked up a nomination in the Best Contemporary Christian album category for Youth Revival (Live).

Justin Timberlake joined Bowie in feeling a cold shoulder this year with his hit song Can't Stop This Feeling! pushed out of Record of the Year and pop categories, although it did get a nod for Visual Media Best Song for the animated family movie Trolls.

Country-rock's Sturgill Simpson caused the biggest surprise when he managed the Album of the Year nomination that most pundits had Bowie pencilled in for.

Bowie fans also were furious Justin Bieber managed an Album of the Year nod ahead of Bowie.

Another nomination raising eyebrows was Beyonce's Rock Performance nod for Don't Hurt Yourself, pitting her against Twenty One Pilots, Alabama Shakes, Disturbed and Bowie.

The Album of the Year nominees were: Adele (25); Beyonce (Lemonade); Justin Bieber (Purpose); Drake (Views); and Sturgill Simpson (A Sailor's Guide to Earth).

The Record of the Year nominees were: Adele (Hello); Beyonce (Formation); Lukas Graham (7 Years); Rihanna featuring Drake (Work); Twenty One Pilots (Stressed Out).

The Grammy Award winners will be announced on February 12.


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Published 7 December 2016 2:00pm
Source: AAP


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